adjective
Uncommon
southwestern
Southwestern (adjective) means Of, in, or relating to the southwest. Example: “Southwestern cuisine often features chili peppers and corn.”
adjective
1
Of, in, or relating to the southwest.
"Locals think southwestern sunsets are the most beautiful."
"In particular, Kumamoto prefecture in southwestern Japan is quickly becoming a hotbed for tech investment from companies including TSMC and Fujifilm Holdings Corp (FUJIF)."
— Reuters, Chipmakers look to Japan as worries about China grow (2023)
"Southwestern cuisine often features chili peppers and corn."
How to use southwestern
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRelating to or located in the southwest.
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_____ cuisine often features chili peppers and corn.
Etymology
From Old English suthwesterne, from south + western.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for southwestern
See all rhymes for southwestern →Frequently asked questions
What does “southwestern” mean?
The word “southwestern” means of, in, or relating to the southwest. In plain terms, relating to or located in the southwest.
How do you use “southwestern” in a sentence?
Here is “southwestern” used in a sentence: “Southwestern cuisine often features chili peppers and corn.”
What part of speech is “southwestern”?
“Southwestern” is an adjective.
Where does the word “southwestern” come from?
The word “southwestern” comes from Old English. From Old English suthwesterne, from south + western.
Is “southwestern” a common word?
“Southwestern” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between "southwestern" and "southwest"?
"Southwest" functions as a noun or direction ("head southwest"), while "southwestern" is the adjective describing something relating to or located in the southwest, as in "southwestern cuisine."
Is "southwestern" one word or hyphenated?
"Southwestern" is usually written as a single word in modern English, though "south-western" with a hyphen is sometimes seen in British usage.
When is "southwestern" capitalized?
"Southwestern" is capitalized when it names a specific region or proper noun, such as "the Southwestern United States," but stays lowercase when used generically as a directional adjective.
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